The United States Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, is headed to San Diego tomorrow to announce that a ship will be named after labor leader Cesar Chavez. General Dynamics NASSCO spokesman James Gill told the Associated Press it’s a way to pay homage to the Latino workers who built the dry cargo ship, and the neighborhood (Barrio Logan) General Dynamics calls home.

“This decision shows the direction the Navy is heading. Naming a ship after Cesar Chavez goes right along with other recent decisions by the Navy that appear to be more about making a political statement than upholding the Navy’s history and tradition.”

Cesar Chavez was in the military, serving two years in the Navy after he enlisted in 1946. Hunter, who served as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan, has suggested that the ship might instead be named after a Latino military hero like Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael Peralta.

The naming of the ship is to be officially announced today. Home Post has featured a few readers' comments.

What do you think? Is naming a ship after Chavez a good way to honor Latino shipbuilders? Does Hunter have a valid complaint?

In Southern California, generations of immigrants are creating an evolving definition of "American." Multi-American is your source for news, conversation and insight on this emerging regional and national identity.